Posted on August 14, 2025 in Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect

When you place a loved one in the care of a nursing home, sexual abuse might be the furthest thing from your mind. Unfortunately, it happens more often than you would think, and abusers will go to great lengths to cover it up. Knowing the signs and how to respond can help protect vulnerable people. If you suspect your loved one is being sexually abused in a nursing home, our Chicago, IL personal injury attorneys can provide guidance and help you fight for the compensation your family deserves.

People Most at Risk for Nursing Home Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse in nursing homes often targets those who are vulnerable due to age or disability. Residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may not be able to speak up or understand what is happening to them. Those who have limited mobility or communication difficulties are also at higher risk. Women tend to be more frequently targeted, but men can be victims as well.

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 Posted on August 07, 2025 in Medical Malpractice

When fetal distress goes unnoticed or untreated, the consequences can be devastating. In one of our cases, we secured a $2.75 million settlement for a 29-year-old woman whose baby was stillborn due to a nurse’s failure to properly read a fetal monitor. This is one of the largest prenatal death settlements recorded in Cook County, and it highlights just how serious the failure to diagnose fetal distress can be. If your family has been affected by a similar situation, our Chicago, IL medical malpractice attorneys can help you understand your rights and take legal action.

How Can Fetal Distress Lead to Birth Injuries?

Fetal distress usually means that the baby is not getting enough oxygen during labor and delivery. This condition, also called hypoxia, can cause serious injuries to the baby's brain and other organs. If doctors or nurses fail to act quickly, the baby may suffer permanent harm, including cerebral palsy, seizures, or developmental delays.

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 Posted on July 31, 2025 in Car Accidents

When a car and a bicycle collide, the injuries can be particularly severe for the cyclist. Determining who is at fault is not always simple. Illinois law requires all road users, including drivers and cyclists, to follow traffic rules. Whether you were hit while riding your bike or while driving your vehicle, it is important to understand how fault is determined. A skilled Chicago, IL bicycle accident attorney can help guide you through your rights and options.

How Does Illinois Law Govern Auto Accidents?

Illinois law treats bicycles as vehicles when they are operated on public roads. According to 625 ILCS 5/11-1502, cyclists are subject to the same rights and duties that apply to drivers. This includes obeying traffic signals, yielding when required, and riding in the same direction as vehicle traffic.

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 Posted on July 23, 2025 in Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one due to another person’s negligence is devastating. In Illinois, families may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death claim, a survival action, or both. While both involve the death of a person caused by another party, they serve different purposes under the law. Understanding the difference can help families pursue the appropriate legal remedies. For guidance in this process, you should speak with an experienced Chicago, IL wrongful death lawyer.

How Does Illinois Law Define Survival Action and Wrongful Death?

The Illinois Wrongful Death Act defines a wrongful death as when someone dies due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions of another person or party. The purpose of a wrongful death claim is to compensate the surviving family members for the harm they personally suffered due to the loss of their loved one. This includes financial support the deceased would have provided, as well as emotional loss and grief.

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 Posted on July 14, 2025 in Medical Malpractice

When medical care goes wrong, the consequences can be life-altering. From surgical mistakes to misdiagnoses, medical errors can lead to serious injuries, long-term health problems, or even death. If you believe you have a claim, you should speak with a Chicago, IL medical malpractice attorney. These cases are more complicated than other personal injury claims. Trying to handle one alone could leave you without the compensation that you need and deserve.

Proving Liability in a Medical Malpractice Case

Medical malpractice cases are different from many other injury claims. It is not enough to simply show that you were hurt while receiving medical treatment. Instead, you have to prove that a doctor, nurse, hospital, or other healthcare provider failed to follow the standard of care expected of them. Then, you must show that their failure caused your injury. "Standard of care" can be somewhat subjective. It depends on what a reasonably careful medical professional would have done under similar circumstances.

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 Posted on July 06, 2025 in Car Accidents

Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are not commonly awarded in car accident cases. However, under the right circumstances, a drunk driving case may warrant an additional financial award. If you suffered severe injuries in an accident caused by a drunk or drugged driver, a Chicago, IL car accident lawyer can help you determine whether requesting punitive damages is right for you.

What Is the Purpose of Punitive Damages in Illinois?

Punitive damages serve a different purpose than compensatory damages in Illinois. While compensatory damages reimburse you for losses like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault party in your case for conduct deemed especially reckless or malicious. 

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1115.05, punitive damages are also designed to deter the defendant and others from similar behavior. Courts require clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions showed an evil motive or a reckless indifference to the rights and safety of others. For a car accident case, this means the other driver’s actions must go beyond simple negligence. Drunk driving often qualifies. 

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 Posted on June 28, 2025 in Premises Liability

In Illinois, apartment complex owners are legally responsible, under premises liability law, for maintaining safe conditions on their properties, including in and around swimming pools. When tenants or guests suffer a pool-related injury, the question of liability often comes down to whether the property owner took reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a swimming pool incident, a Chicago, IL premises liability attorney can help you understand your legal rights.

What Is Premises Liability Law in Illinois?

Premises liability is a legal concept that holds property owners accountable when unsafe conditions on their property cause injury. Under 740 ILCS 130/2, known as the Illinois Premises Liability Act, property owners and occupiers owe a duty of reasonable care to lawful visitors. This responsibility includes maintaining the premises, correcting known hazards, and warning about dangerous conditions that are not obvious.

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 Posted on June 22, 2025 in Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle riders in Illinois face dangers that can lead to devastating or fatal outcomes on the road, especially considering their vulnerability to severe injuries. An experienced Chicago motorcycle accident attorney understands how even a moment of driver inattention or unsafe road design can lead to tragedy. Whether the crash occurs on a busy highway or in a quiet suburb, many fatal motorcycle accidents share common causes.

Common Causes of Deadly Motorcycle Accidents in Illinois

While every crash has unique circumstances, certain patterns appear often in fatal motorcycle collisions across Illinois. Consider some common causes.

Left-Turn Collisions

One of the most dangerous scenarios for a motorcyclist is when a car turns left in front of them at an intersection. Drivers often misjudge a motorcycle’s speed or fail to see it entirely. Illinois law under 625 ILCS 5/11-902 requires drivers turning left to yield to oncoming traffic. Violating that law can have catastrophic consequences. For example, a 24-year-old rider was killed in Buffalo Grove in June 2025 after a driver allegedly made a left turn into his path.

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 Posted on June 17, 2025 in Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect

In theory, nursing homes were designed to provide compassionate care for some of the most vulnerable members of society. In practice, those entrusted with your loved one’s care may not take the job as seriously as they should. In Illinois, you have the right to hold nursing home staff or the facility legally liable for nursing home neglect and abuse, and a knowledgeable Chicago, IL nursing home abuse lawyer can help you identify signs of neglect and take legal action for your loved one.

Physical Signs of Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse

Neglect occurs when nursing home caregivers fail to meet the basic needs of residents. This can include medical care, food, safety, and hygiene. Some more obvious signs of abuse are physical, and they can include unexplained fractures, cuts, or bruises. Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, can indicate that they have not been repositioned in bed. They may exhibit sudden changes in mobility and weight or have an obvious decline in personal hygiene. If an individual caregiver or the owner of a nursing home is responsible for your loved one’s suffering, they could face civil action and criminal charges under Illinois law.

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 Posted on June 05, 2025 in Premises Liability

In short, yes, you may be able to file a personal injury claim under Illinois’ premises liability laws to recover damages if you were injured in a parking lot slip-and-fall accident. However, proving fault in these cases can be challenging, and without the evidence to support your claim of negligence, you will not be able to recover compensation for your losses. If you have questions about filing a claim or lawsuit for your fall, an experienced Chicago, IL premises liability attorney can answer them and help you build your case.

Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Parking Lots

There are many ways that the conditions of a parking lot can contribute to a nasty fall. Some common examples include: 

• Low lighting can make it difficult to see steps or hazardous debris, causing you to trip or slip.

• Oil leaks or other liquids that are not as visible can be dangerous when there is no signage present to warn someone.

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